With Regards to forging of a full tang hunter, how much steel should be allowed for a proper finished tang length?
Warning: I like to answer questions with another question......
What size stock are you starting with? Do you have a drawing of the finished knife? (preferably done to full scale)
When I plan out a knife, I usually do some backward thinking. So, I try to figure out how much steel (in cubic inches) I need for the finished product, look at my starting stock (usually 1 inch round) and do the math, backwards. Then I know how much steel I need to start with to get the blade and tang for the finished knife. The answer to your question depends on how big the handle area is, how thick the blade & tang are going to be, and what size your starting stock is. Does that make sense?
Joshua States
www.dosgatosforge.com
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Also on Instagram and Facebook as J.States Bladesmith
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.â€
I always leave extra for the tang. Any extra length can be easily trimmed off and gives more options. I find that it also ensures that I have not shorted myself and forced to thin a tang out of the material.
MP
|quoted:
Warning: I like to answer questions with another question......
What size stock are you starting with? Do you have a drawing of the finished knife? (preferably done to full scale)
When I plan out a knife, I usually do some backward thinking. So, I try to figure out how much steel (in cubic inches) I need for the finished product, look at my starting stock (usually 1 inch round) and do the math, backwards. Then I know how much steel I need to start with to get the blade and tang for the finished knife. The answer to your question depends on how big the handle area is, how thick the blade & tang are going to be, and what size your starting stock is. Does that make sense?
Thanks so much Joshua for the reply. Yes I do always draw a full scale drawing of the knife i will be producing complete with deminsions and I will be using 1"x 3/16" 5160 for this particular knife. I know I have been told by some of the MS in the past but I have been working mainly on hidden tang knives for quite a while now and have forgotten the rule of thumb that I was told. I had rather have to much than not enough as I will always be able to grind off any excess that I dont need that way.
